Thom Harinck Godfather of Muay Thai Kickboxing

Thom Harinck Godfather of Muay Thai Kickboxing

Memoirs of Thom Harinck, kickboxing coach and Muay Thai legend

Memoirs of Thom Harinck, the celebrity kickboxing coach of countless national and international champions and mastermind behind 3 K-1 championships.

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About the Book

Fascinating memoir of a remarkable kickboxing coach

Thom Harinck trained world champions such as Peter Aerts, Branko Cikatic, Gilbert Ballantine, Badr Hari and Hesdy Gerges, and has coached masses of students in his dojos in Amsterdam, Brazil and Japan. Harinck invented his own style of fighting: Chakuriki, which is a unique mix of techniques from kyokushin karate, judo, boxing, jujutsu and wrestling.

In Thom Harinck, Godfather of Muay Thai Kickboxing in the West, the coach candidly tells of the highs and the lows, the struggles and hard-won victories on his journey to becoming a living legend in the world of martial arts. He looks back on a most remarkable career as a kickboxing coach, sharing anecdotes about his life as a bouncer, martial arts apprentice, stuntman and trainer.

Thom Harinck is one of the finest kickboxing coaches ever on record

The book contains fascinating stories from the world of kickboxing, some of which have never been published before. Harinck relates the thrill of fighting in international tournaments, including intense battles in Thailand, the home of Muay Thai. We read about the sensei (teacher) of the Chakuriki dojo running barefoot with his students through the streets of Amsterdam at night, and about the deep friendships between Harinck and his fighters. His memoirs are filled with the Amsterdam tongue-in-cheek wit and wisdom of a man who has truly lived his life as an intrepid spirit, and to the fullest.

THOM HARINCK memoirs by Amsterdam Publishers

The book about Thom Harinck memoirs is illustrated with more than 100 photos from Thom Harinck’s archive, documenting his life from humble beginnings as a shy Amsterdam kid to the celebrity coach of the present day. A selection of students and champions appear throughout the book, including: Richard Ploos, Iwan de Randamie, Saskia van Rijswijk, Rik van de Vathorst, Stuart Ballantine, Branko Cikatić, Tekin Donmez, Kenneth Plak, Corrine Geeris, Patrik Eriksson, Perry Ubeda, Nobu Hayashi, Peter Aerts, Badr Hari, Hesdy Gerges, Satoshi Ishii, Jérôme Le Banner, Menno Dijkstra, Amir Zeyada, and Gilbert Ballantine.

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Details
Authors: ,
Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers
Publication Year: 2016
Format: paperback
Length: 262
ASIN: B01DR2QRFY
ISBN: 9789492371072
Rating:

List Price: $21,50
eBook Price: $7,95
Endorsements
Fascinating memoir of an impressive kickboxing coach! 72-year-old Thom Harinck reflects on his life as a celebrity kickboxing coach from Amsterdam in this fascinating memoir.
– Amazon Customer
There is no dearth of books on exemplary martial arts stalwarts, some of whom have become movie heroes (and villains) in blockbuster films around the world. Rarely, if any, focus on legendary trainers, or those who operate outside the public limelight and yet are responsible for the enduring success of their students. In context, Thom Harinck: Godfather of Muay Thai Kickboxing in the West, fills this gap. Harinck is a well acclaimed authority and the founder of his own martial art, chakuriki. The book is a partnership between Harinck and Julio Punch, a martial arts practitioner and aficionado. This joint product was based on a series of interviews with Harinck, and meticulously transcribed and edited by Punch in English with the goal of reaching a global audience. Harinck’s life is a revealing and riveting narrative about the martial arts, from its fledgling origins in selected local areas to its eventual excursions into the global scene. Harinck’s multifaceted lifestyle, both his high and low points, accentuates pivotal stages in the history of martial arts (Muay Thai, in particular) in the Netherlands, and extending to Thailand, Japan, the United States, and other parts of the world. For martial arts practitioners, Harinck’s philosophy and training methods illuminate what it takes to be proficient and even a martial arts champion. Admittedly, physical skills –particularly strength, stamina, and resilience—are paramount, but the intangibles, such as a deep desire to excel, relentless passion for training, and adherence to ethics, are essential as well. In this context, Harinck describes his relations with various fighters, his strict rules and regimens, his tribulations in actual bouts, his joy at victories, and also his disappointment with estranged fighters.
– Buddy U
Thom Harinck is one of the finest kickboxing coaches ever on record. The list of great champions he has trained is long and full of superb fighters. Harinck's book is essential reading for all reality-based martial arts fans.
– Bob "O'Hara" Wall, American karate champion and co-star of Enter the Dragon
About the Author
Julio Punch

Thom Harinck (The Netherlands, 1943) lives in Amsterdam and is married to Marjan Olfers. Together they have three children: Jane, Charlotte and Tobias. Thom is the author of several books on martial arts, such as Muay Thai or Kickboxing. He can be reached at www.thomharinck.com

Julio Punch (United Kingdom, 1971) is a Dutch translator and computer instructor. He has practised several martial arts as well as yoga: he has a blue belt in kyokushinkai karate. He studied Philosophy and Cultural Anthropology. The current publication is his first book. He can be reached at www.julio-online.net

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